Customer Reviews

Vote for Larry

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It is truly amazing how deep Tashjian has reached into Larry/Josh's inner being. Even though he was never once physically described, his personality is displayed in the most vivid of colors. Even in writing my own amateur fiction and psychoanalyzing my friends, I doubt I could come close to such a beautiful portrayal. The book is full of jaw-dropping political facts concealed within an adventurous story with mystery, romance, action, and a plot that keeps you on your toes. This is one of the best books I have ever read, to bad I won't be 18 by November. :-)
Thanks Tashjian!

This is the most optimistic book I have ever read. It toys with not only the idea that people WANT to change the world, but that they CAN, without superpowers or magic or an appearance on Oprah. This was a Kid Runs For President book without the immaturity; it focused less on the age of the candidate than on the issues-real, true, important issues-he's pushing. Is this book realistic? No, of course not--but instead of faulting the author, why not fault ourselves? Why couldn't a group of people who were willing to fight for something get the rest of us to care? Not only does Janet Tashjian provide real solutions to problems--exaggerated and stretched, but on the right track--but she also introduces the novel idea of the Critical Patriot: the person who sees the flaws of the country but doesn't retreat into cynical commentary. The person who actually loves this country with its flaws AND IS WILLING TO MAKE IT BETTER. Her realistic portrayal--using actual candidates, events, issues, and facts--makes it all the more relevant to us. I think that all teens should read this book, just as all teens should register to vote when they're old enough. Josh/Larry is the symbolic epitome of what teens COULD be--not necessarily candidates but activists, working to make America and the world a better place. This book takes a stand--so should we.

I cannot believe that I'm am the first person to review this fantastic book. Let me start off by saying that if you were a fan of "The Gospel according to Larry" you will not be dissapointed. This book perfectly continues Josh's quest to make the world a better place. But this time instead of tackling consumerism Josh/Larry comes out of hiding and gets into something totally different, politics. The author Janet Tashjian has an amazingly perceptive understanding of politics and the state of the world today. Not only that but she really makes the political system seem very exciting and interesting in an engaging story. This is an amazing book!

Don't get me wrong. I love this book. This book is all the way up there with my other favorites, but, however, is not anywhere near the first book, The Gospel According to Larry. Anyway, I love this book. I would reccomend it to anyone. Just make sure you read the first one before this one, or else you will be really confused.

If you liked The Gospel according to Larry, you're most likely to like this book. Janet Tashjian really put a lot of imagination and creativity, which I liked a lot. I liked the first book better, though. Gospel according to Larry was a more serious book, and this book has a lot more wild things happening in it. I'd recommend this book to anybody who loves to go on an adventure.

"Larry" is such a fun, original character. This book focuses on true issues that are ignored in most races for the White House - health care, education, minimum wage, and the environment.

Tashjian has found a witty way to make a very important point - the youth vote is largely ignored but a necessity in our society.

I highly recommend this book for ALL teens.

This is...an odd book. I mean, really, that's the only word for it. The first book in the series, The Gospel According to Larry, has a really definitive and conclusive ending. As in, there is absolutely no room for more. And yet, somehow, Tashjian manages to somehow completely ignore the fact that she told us in the previous book that we would never hear from Larry again, and she brings him back. Just baffling. So, okay, we're left to read another book about Larry's adventures which were supposed to have ended, but that's ok. More books can be a good thing, right? I still want to know why she didn't just create a new character with a new story, but this is ok, too. For the book itself, you don't have to have read the first book to understand it, and not very much time and depth is given to recapping, which is always nice. It has that same quirky writing we saw in The Gospel According to Larry, same lovable characters with some new ones thrown into the mix, and the amazing footnotes are back as well. I think my biggest complaint is the convenience of all the events. Larry somehow gets back in touch with her. Somehow all these people collide in this perfect chain of unlikely events. Not buying it; it just comes off as ridiculous. It's kind of a cool read for anyone interested in the inner workings of the political process, and I will admit the West Wing geek in me adored that portion of the book, but it gets preachy at times, just like The Gospel did, and there's a bit of a romantic cliffhanger that I wasn't quite a fan of. There's really not that much else to say. I'm honestly still confused about why this book exists. It's an interesting novel, but somehow just feels...hollow.

Rating: 4/5

While I don't get involved in man-made government, I think Vote for Larry was a fun read. Sadly, I hear the third book will have no appearance by Janine though.

One thing Janet, don't fall into the rut of a lot of young adult books on todays market and have Larry involved in pre-martial sex in the third book, will ya?

In great condition! Good story and brings back that feeling the gospel gave me.

I enjoyed The Gospel According to Larry and the thought provoking topics. It even had suspense and mystery involved in it. Vote for Larry was forced, and a rehashing of the same ideas in Gospel. The plot, what there was of it, was so unbelievable and made the activism of young people seem easy--no hard-work needed. The struggles young adults would really have experienced were not included, and it made add Constitutional Amendments look like a breeze. Also, the likelihood of an 18 year old getting so much of the Presidential vote in the November election. I wish the author would have made it more believable and more like the Gospel--that might really incite youth activism.